Thank you, Mr. President for giving the floor to my delegation. My delegation aligns with the statement made by the delegation of China on behalf of the Like Minded Group. 

 

India is a strong supporter of the promotion and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples. We had supported the adoption of UNDRIP in 2007. India is supportive of the process of enhancing participation of indigenous peoples and institutions in relevant meetings of UN on issues affecting them as per the UNGA resolution A/RES/70/232. We appreciate the collective efforts made by the Advisors, Member States and Indigenous Peoples towards this resolution. 

 

At the same time, during the consultation process, it was once again clear that there is no internationally agreed 'definition' or 'criteria of identification' of 'indigenous peoples'. We would like to remind that the concept of indigenous peoples relates to the specific situations where people suffered from historic injustices as a result of their colonization and dispossession of their lands, territories and resources.  

 

This complex concept cannot be expanded arbitrarily to even include societies where diverse ethnic groups have lived together for thousand years to create artificial divides. 

 

Because of this lack of clarity about the definition of indigenous peoples, today there are three different situations among Member States with regard to the concept of indigenous peoples:  

 

• There is one group of countries that identifies certain sections of their populations as indigenous as distinct from the other sections of non-indigenous peoples; 

 

• Another group that identifies their entire population as indigenous; and

 

• A third group that rejects that they have any indigenous population groups. 

 

Flowing from this situation, it is our understanding that the current process is applicable only to those countries that recognize indigenous peoples as distinct from the other non-Indigenous people residing in the country. 

  

My delegation will continue to remain actively engaged in the consultations and the intergovernmental negotiations on the issue in future towards achieving a consensus decision.  

 

I thank you.